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Woman controls diabetes through 'Rob's Big Losers' program

Sharon Shank, left, holds a sign of encouragement for her friend, April Mincey, who finished the Rob's Big Losers weight loss program on Friday. The participants and some of their supporters were getting ready to take part in a 5k at Park Ridge Health.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By Gina MaloneTimes-News correspondent

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 7:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 7:17 p.m.

If you lose, you win.

That's how weight loss programs work. And Rob's Big Losers is no exception.

April Mincey knows. She's one of 16 participants in the latest 12-week challenge hosted by HIS Radio, a Greenville, S.C.-based Christian radio station. Operations/Program Director and morning show host Rob Dempsey started the program in 2005 in order to confront his own need and desire to shed pounds.

Mincey's story is a familiar tale of letting things go.

"I was getting depressed and didn't even realize it," she wrote in a blog that participants keep on the program's website. "I was slowly killing myself with food. My diabetes was way out of control."

She credits her husband, Steve, with helping her realize that she had stopped caring for herself properly with the simple question he posed to her: "What are you trying to do — kill yourself?"

Mincey was no stranger to losing weight. Before she moved to Hendersonville two-and-a-half years ago, she had lost 60 pounds on another program. With the move, however, and settling into new surroundings and into her job as laboratory supervisor at Park Ridge Health, she regained 25 of those pounds.

A diabetic since the age of 26, Mincey said the possibility of getting off of some of her medication motivates her. She has been insulin-dependent for 10 years now. After her husband's comment, she was spurred to lose another 10 pounds beginning in January.

When she saw promotions for the Rob's Big Losers program on the computers at work — Park Ridge Health is one of the sponsors of the challenge, along with WLOS and the Lelia Patterson Center — Mincey decided to apply. An online application, a pre-screening, a telephone interview and a random drawing later, and Mincey was one of the 16 chosen for the program, which began in April.

Participants received a free three-month membership to Lelia Patterson Center's fitness facility, along with wellness coaching and education about nutrition and exercise. There were weekly group exercises, individualized plans for each participant — spin class for Mincey — and exercise boot camps.

"Boot camp was awesome," Mincey said, with activities such as exercise stations; turning over tractor tires; loading wood into a wheelbarrow, pushing it, then unloading it; and a group effort at pushing a car.

"We had a blast," she said.

Her husband was there for her throughout the 12 weeks, Mincey added, and he was especially impressed with her making it through the strenuous boot camps.

Throughout the challenge, participants were divided into two teams of eight. Friendly competitions between teams brought the participants together on a regular basis and kept things lively. In addition, everyone was asked to blog about their experiences three times a week.

"Through this program," Mincey wrote in one of her blogs, "I have learned that I needed to get back out there and exercise, eat right and take better care of myself because there are people who love me and need me."

The blogging, she said, encouraged them "to get it all out there" — their moods, mindsets, everything.

"It was a big help," Mincey said, adding that she will miss the camaraderie that came from having 15 others going through the same challenges and highs and lows that she was. Three of her fellow participants, however, are also Park Ridge employees, and Mincey hopes that they might continue working out together and supporting each other.

"I'm really planning on keeping this up," she said.

Participants had a final weigh-in Friday before running a 5K and then ending the program with closing ceremonies at Park Ridge Health. Mincey said that because of muscle mass gain, her pounds lost are less impressive than the fact that midway through the challenge she had already lost one-and-a-half percent body fat.

The biggest miracle of all, she said, has been her fasting blood sugar levels, which have remained good since she began exercising. Before, without exercise, she had not been able to bring them down to acceptable levels no matter how hard she tried.

Mincey will find out in August when she goes to her next doctor's appointment whether her medication can be adjusted.

"I feel wonderful," she said. "I sleep better at night. During the day I have more energy."

Throughout the challenge, she has kept foremost in her mind her nephew, Daniel Tomberlin, who at 11 years old is battling cancer at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"He is a fighter," Mincey said. "He doesn't give up."

She wished that he, as her inspiration, could be there for the 5K that brought her weeks of hard work to a grand finish.

"I will finish it. Will I be first? Probably not, but I will finish," she said Thursday.

With Daniel on her mind, friends joining her on the track and her husband cheering from the sidelines, she did just that.

In one of her last blog entries, Mincey wrote, "In the end we will all come out winners."

<p>If you lose, you win. </p><p>That's how weight loss programs work. And Rob's Big Losers is no exception. </p><p>April Mincey knows. She's one of 16 participants in the latest 12-week challenge hosted by HIS Radio, a Greenville, S.C.-based Christian radio station. Operations/Program Director and morning show host Rob Dempsey started the program in 2005 in order to confront his own need and desire to shed pounds.</p><p>Mincey's story is a familiar tale of letting things go.</p><p>"I was getting depressed and didn't even realize it," she wrote in a blog that participants keep on the program's website. "I was slowly killing myself with food. My diabetes was way out of control."</p><p>She credits her husband, Steve, with helping her realize that she had stopped caring for herself properly with the simple question he posed to her: "What are you trying to do — kill yourself?"</p><p>Mincey was no stranger to losing weight. Before she moved to Hendersonville two-and-a-half years ago, she had lost 60 pounds on another program. With the move, however, and settling into new surroundings and into her job as laboratory supervisor at Park Ridge Health, she regained 25 of those pounds.</p><p>A diabetic since the age of 26, Mincey said the possibility of getting off of some of her medication motivates her. She has been insulin-dependent for 10 years now. After her husband's comment, she was spurred to lose another 10 pounds beginning in January. </p><p>When she saw promotions for the Rob's Big Losers program on the computers at work — Park Ridge Health is one of the sponsors of the challenge, along with WLOS and the Lelia Patterson Center — Mincey decided to apply. An online application, a pre-screening, a telephone interview and a random drawing later, and Mincey was one of the 16 chosen for the program, which began in April.</p><p>Participants received a free three-month membership to Lelia Patterson Center's fitness facility, along with wellness coaching and education about nutrition and exercise. There were weekly group exercises, individualized plans for each participant — spin class for Mincey — and exercise boot camps.</p><p>"Boot camp was awesome," Mincey said, with activities such as exercise stations; turning over tractor tires; loading wood into a wheelbarrow, pushing it, then unloading it; and a group effort at pushing a car. </p><p>"We had a blast," she said.</p><p>Her husband was there for her throughout the 12 weeks, Mincey added, and he was especially impressed with her making it through the strenuous boot camps. </p><p>Throughout the challenge, participants were divided into two teams of eight. Friendly competitions between teams brought the participants together on a regular basis and kept things lively. In addition, everyone was asked to blog about their experiences three times a week. </p><p>"Through this program," Mincey wrote in one of her blogs, "I have learned that I needed to get back out there and exercise, eat right and take better care of myself because there are people who love me and need me."</p><p>The blogging, she said, encouraged them "to get it all out there" — their moods, mindsets, everything. </p><p>"It was a big help," Mincey said, adding that she will miss the camaraderie that came from having 15 others going through the same challenges and highs and lows that she was. Three of her fellow participants, however, are also Park Ridge employees, and Mincey hopes that they might continue working out together and supporting each other. </p><p>"I'm really planning on keeping this up," she said.</p><p>Participants had a final weigh-in Friday before running a 5K and then ending the program with closing ceremonies at Park Ridge Health. Mincey said that because of muscle mass gain, her pounds lost are less impressive than the fact that midway through the challenge she had already lost one-and-a-half percent body fat. </p><p>The biggest miracle of all, she said, has been her fasting blood sugar levels, which have remained good since she began exercising. Before, without exercise, she had not been able to bring them down to acceptable levels no matter how hard she tried.</p><p>Mincey will find out in August when she goes to her next doctor's appointment whether her medication can be adjusted.</p><p>"I feel wonderful," she said. "I sleep better at night. During the day I have more energy."</p><p>Throughout the challenge, she has kept foremost in her mind her nephew, Daniel Tomberlin, who at 11 years old is battling cancer at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. </p><p>"He is a fighter," Mincey said. "He doesn't give up."</p><p>She wished that he, as her inspiration, could be there for the 5K that brought her weeks of hard work to a grand finish. </p><p>"I will finish it. Will I be first? Probably not, but I will finish," she said Thursday.</p><p>With Daniel on her mind, friends joining her on the track and her husband cheering from the sidelines, she did just that.</p><p>In one of her last blog entries, Mincey wrote, "In the end we will all come out winners."</p>